Those Aren't Conservatives; they're drunken sailors!

Let me first apologize to all of our drunken sailor readers if the above quote comparing the Republican leadership in Washington to them is considered an insult. I was merely trying to put things in perspective by using a bit of humor.

USAToday reports on one of the fundamental lies about the current crop of Republicans: they call themselves conservatives, but they are anything but that. In fact, the federal budget has rocketed out of control during the combined one-party rule the Bush White House and the Frist/DeLay/Hastert/Boehner Republican Congress.

Here are a few pertinent quotes from the front page story:

WASHINGTON — Federal spending is outstripping economic growth at a rate unseen in more than half a century, provoking some conservatives to complain that government under Republican control has gotten too big.

The federal government is currently spending 20.8 cents of every $1 the economy generates, up from 18.5 cents in 2001, White House budget documents show. That's the most rapid growth during one administration since Franklin Roosevelt.

Think that's stunning? Continue on:

There are no signs that the trend is about to turn around. The House Budget Committee last week rejected a proposal that would require spending hikes to be offset by cuts in other spending or by tax increases.

This week, the House is scheduled to debate the $2.8 trillion budget for 2007, which projects an additional $3 trillion of debt in the next five years.

Naturally, since it's USAToday, there are some keen graphics that drive home the point that these Republicans are not conservative at all. When it comes to the size of government, they've increased it. When it comes to spending, it's out of control. When it comes to accountability, they want none of it.

Keep those thoughts in mind this summer and fall when, as sure as summer's going to bring mosquitoes, Republicans will be running for election and re-election to the Congress as conservatives.

Drunken sailors? Hypocrites? You make the call! All we know for certain is, these folks are NOT conservatives.